Energy Carbon Research Articles

Preparation and characterization of alkali-activated Pisha sandstone-slag composite cement

This study explores the development of a novel alkali-activated cementitious material (APKC) using Pisha sandstone and slag as the main raw materials, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional cement. The APKC's flowability and mechanical properties are comparable to those of ordinary Portland cement (OPC), but it is significantly more cost-effective, with lower carbon emissions and energy consumption. Specifically, at a water-to-binder (w/b) ratio of 0.3, with an optimal activator content of 17.5 % and a Pisha sandstone-to-slag ratio of 1:1, APKC achieves excellent performance: a flowability of 195 mm, and 28-day compressive and flexural strengths of 59.1 MPa and 9.96 MPa, respectively. Moreover, the production of one ton of APKC reduces costs to 64.01 %, carbon emissions to 22.76 %, and energy consumption to 28.56 % of those associated with one ton of OPC, highlighting its potential as a viable replacement in engineering applications. The primary hydration products of APKC include hydrotalcite, C,N-A-S-H gels, C-S-H gels, and natrolines. It is crucial to maintain the alkali activator content and Pisha sandstone-to-slag ratio within optimal ranges, as insufficient alkali dosage or an excessive Pisha sandstone-to-slag ratio can diminish the mechanical properties by reducing hydration product content. Conversely, too much alkali activator can lead to high-porosity hydration products due to the dissolution of Al in C,N-A-S-H gels.

The Robust Optimization of Low-Carbon Economic Dispatching for Regional Integrated Energy Systems Considering Wind and Solar Uncertainty

In this paper, a two-stage robust optimization approach is employed to address the variability in renewable energy output by accounting for the uncertainties associated with wind and solar energy. The model aims to achieve a balanced system that is both low-carbon and economically efficient while also being resilient to uncertainties. Initially, a regional integrated energy system model is developed, integrating electricity, gas, and heat. The variability of wind and photovoltaic power outputs is represented using a modifiable uncertainty set. A resilient optimal scheduling model is formulated in two stages, with the objective of minimizing costs under worst-case scenarios. This model is solved iteratively through a column and constraint generation approach. Additionally, the scheduling model incorporates horizontal time shifts and vertical complementary substitutions for carbon trading costs and demand-side loads to avoid excessive conservatism and to manage carbon emissions and energy trading in the regional integrated energy system (RIES). Results show that the two-stage robust optimization approach significantly enhances the system’s resilience to risks and minimizes economic losses. The inclusion of carbon trading mechanisms and the demand response prevents the system from becoming overly robust, which could impede economic growth, while also reducing carbon emissions. The proposed method effectively achieves balanced optimal scheduling for a robust, economical, and low-carbon system.

Options for environmental regulation policy under China's carbon peaking target: Energy supply policy or carbon tax policy?

China plans to achieve the carbon peaking target by 2030 and will maybe implement a series of environmental regulation policies, primarily including energy supply policy (such as coal consumption constraint and non-fossil energy development) and carbon tax policy. This paper simulates these policies using a computable general equilibrium model. The simulation results indicate that carbon tax policy has a finite impact on the economy, the emissions reduction effect is also limited and carbon tax policy alone is insufficient to achieve China's 2030 carbon peaking target. The coal consumption constraint policy has a good emissions reduction effect, but is not conducive to economic growth. The non-fossil energy development policy can increase energy supply and promote economic growth, but the emissions reduction effect is inadequate. In general, the simultaneous implementation of the coal consumption constraint and non-fossil energy development policies could not only achieve the carbon peaking goal, but also narrow the energy gap and reduce pressure on economic growth. However, it is notable that if carbon tax policy and energy supply policy are implemented simultaneously, the emissions reduction effect of carbon tax policy would be significantly reduced; therefore, it is likely that no carbon tax will be levied in China.

Can Development in the Digital Economy Lead to A Win-Win for ‘Efficiency Promotion’ and ‘Emission Reduction’?

Abstract The contemporary landscape sees the digital economy (DE) as a pivotal driver of economic evolution. Hence, scrutinising its potential to harmonise ‘efficiency promotion’ and ‘emission reduction’ and combat the challenges of climate change in this digital epoch is imperative. This study empirically investigates the influence of DE growth by evaluating its impact on carbon emission scale and energy efficiency. The study employs econometric modelling to delve into the internal mechanisms and diverse characteristics of DE evolution that influence ‘efficiency promotion’ and ‘emission reduction’. Findings underscore a significant capacity within the DE to ameliorate energy efficiency and curtail overall carbon emissions, revealing its dual prowess in fostering ‘efficiency promotion’ and ‘emission reduction’. Robustness tests affirm these outcomes, fortifying the conclusion. Additionally, the effects of DE development on ‘efficiency promotion’ and ‘emission reduction’ are validated in these tests. The study reveals that the ‘efficiency promotion’ and ‘emission reduction’ facets of DE progression exhibit distinctive regional disparities, notably manifesting more pronounced impacts in the eastern regions.

Grinding process optimization considering carbon emissions, cost and time based on an improved dung beetle algorithm

During the machining phase, carbon emissions produced by grinding machines account for a significant proportion of the total emissions. Optimizing grinding process parameters is an effective energy-saving measure, which can notably reduce carbon emissions. However, most of the research on parameter optimization related to carbon emissions and energy saving is focused on turning and milling processes, with limited studies on the grinding process. To address this gap, this paper introduces an optimization method for grinding process parameters that considers carbon emissions and seeks to balance emissions, time, and cost in the grinding process. Initially, we quantify the relationship between grinding parameters and optimization objectives and a corresponding multi-objective optimization model is established subsequently. Then an improved multi-objective dung beetle optimization algorithm (INSDBO) is proposed to solve this model. As a case study, we conduct experiments on the machining of a plunger. Simulation results indicate that after optimization, carbon emissions, grinding costs and time have decreased by 11.7%,7.7%, and 6.7% respectively, validating the effectiveness of the proposed optimization method. When compared with the Adaptive Weighted Evolutionary Algorithm (AdaW)、the traditional dung beetle algorithm (NSDBO), and Multi-Stage Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm (MSEA), the improved dung beetle optimization algorithm(INSDBO) showed superior performance. This refined algorithm can suggest optimal parameters in the grinding process, thereby reducing carbon emissions, machining time, and costs.

Carbon neutrality and energy production in the UAE: Challenges and opportunities for the petrochemical industries

This study analyzes the strategic impacts of the UAE's push towards diversifying its petroleum industry on international petrochemical companies. The research focuses on the UAE's investments and supportive policies, highlighting the need for international firms to shift strategies by developing high-value-added products, enhancing productivity through carbon reduction and digital technologies, and diversifying export markets. Methodologies include a comparative analysis of production costs and market competitiveness. Key findings reveal the potential for hydrogen imports from the UAE due to lower production costs of blue and green hydrogen compared to Europe, advocating for a diversified hydrogen sourcing strategy. The study underscores the importance of international cooperation for technological advancement and carbon reduction, proposing joint ventures and collaborative research as pathways to enhance global competitiveness and create employment.

Community energy in Italy through the lens of social innovation

Sustainable urban regeneration, in particular with respect to energy, has become a very important issue for local communities currently as a result of the Green New Deal (GND). Renewable energy in domestic consumption is being used to initiate a transition to cleaner energy and limit environmental damage. Through the lens of social innovation, this paper highlights the continuous challenges faced in the transition to lower carbon energy by investigating the opportunity to change the classical top-down management approach to a bottom-up process. The paper fills a gap in the literature by presenting a regional overview of recent Italian community energy sector developments and outlines a number of national best practices in renewable community energy innovation.

Sustainable manufacturing production synergy and circular economy model under low carbon energy based on thermal energy cycle and blockchain technology

With the intensification of global climate change and resource depletion, the use of low-carbon energy and the exploration of circular economy model become more and more important. As an efficient way to use energy, thermal energy cycle has wide application potential in manufacturing industry. This study aims to build a sustainable manufacturing production synergy and circular economy model under low-carbon energy based on thermal energy recycling and blockchain technology, in order to improve the resource utilization efficiency of manufacturing industry, reduce carbon emissions, and achieve double benefits of economy and environment. Through literature analysis and case studies, key elements of thermal energy recycling and blockchain technology are integrated to design and simulate a new collaborative manufacturing system. The system uses thermal energy recycling technology to convert waste heat recovery into reusable energy, and combines blockchain technology to achieve real-time monitoring of energy flows and production processes to improve transparency and efficiency. The model simulation results show that after the introduction of heat recovery and blockchain management, the energy utilization efficiency in the manufacturing process is greatly improved, and the overall carbon emissions are significantly reduced. The transparent data sharing mechanism helps all participants optimize production decisions and improve the flexibility and response speed of collaborative production.

Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction at non-metalated and pyrolysis free hypercrosslinked polymers

Oxygen reduction is one of the core steps of non-emissive zero carbon energy conversion. Therefore, enhancement of its sluggish kinetics is extremely important. Very recently researchers focused on oxygen electrocatalysis at porous polymers. Here we applied the non-metalated and pyrolysis free hypercrosslinked polymers with high specific surface area and abundant active sites. Electrode modified with the copolymer prepared from the twisted triphenylbenzene and N containing triphenyl amine exhibits electrocatalytic ORR in alkaline medium. Tafel slope value (0.067 V dec−1) indicates the efficient electrocatalytic activity and fast reaction kinetics. The lack of H2O2 product detected by scanning electrochemical microscopy suggests 4-electron path. The electrocatalytic activity of electrodes modified with hypercrosslinked polymers prepared from single monomers is also seen.

Community energy in Italy through the lens of social innovation

Sustainable urban regeneration, in particular with respect to energy, has become a very important issue for local communities currently as a result of the Green New Deal (GND). Renewable energy in domestic consumption is being used to initiate a transition to cleaner energy and limit environmental damage. Through the lens of social innovation, this paper highlights the continuous challenges faced in the transition to lower carbon energy by investigating the opportunity to change the classical top-down management approach to a bottom-up process. The paper fills a gap in the literature by presenting a regional overview of recent Italian community energy sector developments and outlines a number of national best practices in renewable community energy innovation.

Evaluation of high-volume fly-ash cementitious binders incorporating nanosilica as eco-friendly sustainable concrete repair materials

Nowadays, the use of environmentally friendly, long-lasting building materials with minimal energy and carbon dioxide emissions are highly recommended. Some of these materials can be made from industrial and agricultural wastes. By replacing ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with large volume of fly ash waste (FA), environmental issues associated with landfill disposal and cement manufacture can be mitigated. Nonetheless, using a high amount of FA (up to 50 %) to replace cement resulted in poor strength performance, particularly during early age. This experimental study created an increased strength cement mortar containing a high volume of FA (60 %) and bottle glass waste nanoparticles (BGWNPs). In this experiment BGWNPs were prepared and 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 vol% of them were used as a replacement of OPC-FA binder. According to the results, by adding 0–6 % of BGWNPs to a high-volume FA matrix considerably increased the bond strength (from 12.5 % to 39.1 %). On the other hand, the findings revealed that the addition of nanoparticles (up to 6 %) caused a modest reduction in strength values. Other engineering and microstructure properties showed a similar pattern. The matrix with 6 % BGWNPs displayed the best performance when compared to other levels. The results also showed that replacing OPC by high volume FA incorporating BGWNPs significantly improved the durability of proposed mortar, such as reduction in drying shrinkage and increased acid attack and abrasion resistance. Related to the environment benefits, the proposed mortars contributed in a reduction of carbon dioxide emission, energy consumption and cost of binder by 61.9 %, 54.3 % and 50.6 % compared to OPC, respectively. To conclude, the use of BGWNPs make it possible to produce high volumes of FA-based cement mortars with acceptable mechanical and durable properties for concrete repair applications in the construction industry. Additionally, sustainability can be attained by lowering pollution, recycling waste, and finding solutions to landfill problems.

Durability Performance of CGF Stone Waste Road Base Materials under Dry-Wet and Freeze-Thaw Cycles.

The disposal of stone waste derived from the stone industry is a worldwide problem. The shortage of landfills, as well as transport costs and environmental pollution, pose a crucial problem. Additionally, as a substitute for cement that has high carbon emissions, energy consumption, and pollution, the disposal of stone wastes by utilizing solid waste-based binders as road base materials can achieve the goal of "waste for waste". However, the mechanical properties and deterioration mechanism of solid waste-based binder solidified stone waste as a road base material under complex environments remains incompletely understood. This paper reveals the durability performance of CGF all-solid waste binder (consisting of calcium carbide residue, ground granulated blast furnace slag, and fly ash) solidified stone waste through the macro and micro properties under dry-wet and freeze-thaw cycling conditions. The results showed that the dry-wet and freeze-thaw cycles have similar patterns of impacts on the CGF and cement stone waste road base materials, i.e., the stress-strain curves and damage forms were similar in exhibiting the strain-softening type, and the unconfined compressive strengths all decreased with the number of cycles and then tended to stabilize. However, the influence of dry-wet and freeze-thaw cycles on the deterioration degree was significantly different; CGF showed excellent resistance to dry-wet cycles, whereas cement was superior in freeze-thaw resistance. The deterioration grade of CGF and cement ranged from 36.15 to 47.72% and 39.38 to 47.64%, respectively, after 12 dry-wet cycles, whereas it ranged from 57.91 to 64.48% and 36.61 to 40.00% after 12 freeze-thaw cycles, respectively. The combined use of MIP and SEM confirmed that the deterioration was due to the increase in the porosity and cracks induced by dry-wet and freeze-thaw cycles, which in turn enhanced the deterioration phenomenon. This can be ascribed to the fact that small pores occupy the largest proportion and contribute to the deterioration process, and the deterioration caused by dry-wet cycles is associated with the formation of large pores through the connection of small pores, while the freeze-thaw damage is due to the increase in medium pores that are more susceptible to water intrusion. The findings provide theoretical instruction and technical support for utilizing solid waste-based binders for solidified stone waste in road base engineering.

Near-zero emission trigeneration system coupling molten salt methane pyrolysis with solid oxide fuel cell based on carbon capture and utilization: Thermodynamic and exergoenvironmental evaluation

Natural gas-based energy systems have garnered widespread attention for their potential to facilitate the transition from traditional to renewable energy sources. Among these, methane pyrolysis technology stands out as a promising pathway. Consequently, a novel methanol-electricity-carbon trigeneration system featuring methane pyrolysis coupled with chemical looping combustion, methanol synthesis, and solid oxide fuel cell unit was designed. To validate this innovative concept, thermodynamic model of the process was developed. Compared to conventional single-generation system, the proposed system demonstrated superior thermodynamic performance, with energy efficiency of 69.51 %, representing improvement of 28.78 %. Sensitivity analysis indicated that optimal carbon utilization-to-storage ratio of 0.68 effectively balanced environmental benefits with energy conversion efficiency. Additionally, the CO2 capture rate and emission of the proposed system reached impressive 99.24 % and 2.15 kg/MWh, respectively, confirming its carbon mitigation potential. Based on this, exergoenvironmental analysis demonstrated that rb,k of the novel system was 21.14 %, indicating room for further environmental impact reduction. Moreover, due to the high rb,k of 16.61 % for the preheater-2 identified as a key component for optimization. Finally, the economic analysis verified the system’s feasibility, showing the annual net income of 6774.06 k$. This novel concept highlights the potential of natural gas-based systems in optimizing carbon utilization and energy efficiency, contributing to a more environmentally sustainable energy infrastructure.

E-Mobility Revolution: Examining the Types, Evolution, Government Policies and Future Perspective of Electric Vehicles

: Electrification is a suitable method for establishing a transportation system that is both clean and energy-efficient, addressing environmental concerns. The transportation industry widely recognizes electric vehicles as a highly promising green technology that can reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption. Besides, electric vehicles are defined as vehicles that can be externally charged and propelled by an electric motor powered by a battery. Moreover, an electric vehicle consists of two distinct types: firstly, an all-electric vehicle, which relies exclusively on battery power to move an electric motor, and secondly, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of electric vehicles by covering four key aspects: types of electric vehicles, the history of electric vehicles, government policies related to electric vehicles, and future prospects of electric vehicles. This paper first discusses the basic types of electric vehicles. Through a comprehensive analysis of several categories of electric vehicles, their distinct characteristics, and their advantages, research enables individuals to make well-informed decisions when contemplating sustainable transportation alternatives. After that, a brief history of electric vehicles is discussed. Documenting the historical evolution of electric vehicles provides context for understanding the technological advancements, challenges, and milestones achieved in the development of electric vehicles over time. After that, Indian government policies related to electric vehicle promotion are discussed. Consequently, this encompasses various incentives, subsidies, initiatives for infrastructure development, and other policy measures with the objective of fostering the use of electric vehicles. Lastly, future prospects of electric vehicles are discussed.

From Trends to Drivers: Key Factors Propelling Electric Vehicle Sales

With the rapid advancement of human economic levels and modern civilization, the automobile manufacturing industry is increasingly confronted with challenges related to energy scarcity and environmental pollution. Low carbon emissions and energy savings have become the main focus of automotive development. Under the influence of government incentives, the sales of household electric vehicles (EVs) have increased significantly, although they still represent a small share of the overall car market. To examine the factors influencing consumer purchases of household EVs, this report integrates both qualitative and quantitative analyses, controlling for single variables. Using linear regression, an empirical analysis was conducted on 18 BYD models with varying ranges and prices. The results indicate a strong positive correlation between driving range, selling price, and EV sales. Looking ahead, the development of new energy vehicles should prioritize longer ranges, high-quality features, and cost-effective performance.

Techno-economic analysis on a hybrid system with carbon capture and energy storage for liquefied natural gas cold energy utilization

For cold energy utilization in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification process, integrated cryogenic CO2 capture using high-grade cold energy is a mainstream method. However, high-grade cold energy for carbon capture may lead to a decrease in cold energy utilization efficiency. This paper aims to propose a hybrid system in which high-grade cold energy is used for liquid air energy storage (LAES) and post-combustion amine scrubbing technology is considered to replace cryogenic carbon capture for improved working efficiency. The medium and low-grade cold energy is utilized for similar working processes, e.g., organic Rankine cycle (ORC), carbon dioxide liquefaction, and data center cooling for comparison. Results show that the proposed hybrid system can produce 437.7 MW of power, 28.8 t·h−1 of CO2 capture capacity, and 23.0 MW of cooling capacity, respectively. The levelized cost of electricity and the annual revenue are 112.3 $·MWh−1 and 2.17 million $, respectively. LNG cold energy utilization efficiency, system energy efficiency, and cold exergy efficiency are 53.4 %, 24.0 %, and 51.5 %, higher than similar processes using cryogenic CO2 capture. It is demonstrated that the proposed system could be a promising method for cold energy utilization and post-combustion capture.

Method for evaluating of the convective heat transfer of window for the non-uniform radiator heated environment

Understanding heat transfer mechanism of window is crucial to decreasing carbon emission and energy consumption. Distribution of indoor temperature in convective-heating room is uneven and determination of reference temperature in calculating convective heat transfer is still challenging. In addition, near-surface airflow is closely related to convective heat transfer due to the interaction of turbulent eddies and the surface of window. Theoretical and technical attempts on this issue are still insufficient. In this study, experimental measurements were conducted in a radiator heating chamber. Through comparing calculated convective heat transfer of window and actual values, the determinations of reference air temperature and surface temperature of window were suggested. Measurement results and root-mean-square error (RMSE) from different measurement schemes showed the utilization of the air temperature near the thermal boundary layer of window yielded better calculation results. In addition, it was found that center-point surface temperature of window was suggested in the experimental analysis. Through non-linear fitting, a simplified correlation, h=0.146ΔT1.630Vm2.261, was proposed for the convective heat transfer of window. Proposed correlation quantitatively related maximum air velocity near window and convective heat transfer of window. Findings in this study are conductive to further understanding the heat transfer mechanism of window and providing reference for evaluating heating loads of buildings. As one basic research, this study provides theoretical support for evaluating heating loads and multifaceted perspective on building energy efficiency and carbon reduction.

Ionic liquid-ethanol mixed solvent design for the post-combustion carbon capture

Global warming driven by CO2 emissions is a critical global issue, with a significant portion of post-combustion emissions. Effective capture and recovery of CO2 from flue gas are essential for mitigating the greenhouse effect and advancing a low-carbon economy. This study proposes an ionic liquid (IL)-ethanol mixed solvent for post-combustion carbon capture. The [C1Py][CF3COO]-ethanol mixed solvent is tailored by solving a computer-aided ionic liquid design (CAILD)-based MINLP optimization problem. The performance of this mixed solvent was thoroughly evaluated through rigorous process simulations. Additionally, a standard oil-based measurement is introduced to assess the quality of energy consumption. The results indicate that the post-combustion carbon capture process using the [C1Py][CF3COO]-ethanol mixed solvent reduces carbon emissions, energy consumption, and total annual cost by 62.33%-75.51%, 64.71%-72.7%, and 53.6%-61.7%, respectively, compared to the MEA/MDEA processes. These findings suggest that the IL-ethanol mixed solvent process is a highly feasible and promising solution for environmental protection, energy efficiency, and economic viability in post-combustion carbon capture applications.

Decoupling framework for large-scale energy systems simultaneously addressing carbon emissions and energy flow relationships through sector units: A case study on uncertainty in China's carbon emission targets

The energy system requires meticulous planning to achieve low-carbon development goals cost-effectively. However, optimizing large-scale energy systems with high spatial-temporal resolution and a rich variety of technologies has always been a challenge due to limited computational resources. Therefore, this study proposes a soft-linkage framework to deconstruct large-scale energy system optimization models based on sectors while ensuring the total carbon emission limit and the electricity supply-demand balance. Using China's energy system as a case study, the impact of uncertainty on emission reduction targets is analyzed. A long-term emission target curve is only described by the total carbon budget and its temporal distribution. Results show that different carbon budget time series can lead to total transition cost variations of up to nearly 100 trillion yuan. Moreover, although a lower carbon budget would increase the total cumulative transition cost quadratically, excessively high carbon budgets raise national natural gas demand, threatening energy security.

Linkages between environmental sustainability, disaggregated emission, renewable energy, and energy efficiency: An evidence from BRI countries.

This paper examines the long-term and short-run causative relationship among environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, renewable energy and carbon emissions from all over sources (coal, oil and fossil fuels) and sector wise division (heat and power, transportation, residential, manufacturing and other sectors. The empirical evidence presented in this study is derived from a balanced panel dataset spanning the annual periods from 2000 to 2021. The dataset specifically focuses on a selection of BRI Countries. The Kao test demonstrates the presence of cointegration across variables such as carbon dioxide emissions, environmental suitability, energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Panel Pooled Mean Group-Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PMG-ARDL) model indicates a statistically significant positive association between the environmental sustainability and disaggregated CO2 emissions over a long-term period. The study found a positive relationship between disaggregated CO2 emissions and environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, with renewable energy sources reducing emissions. It suggests a need for a structural transition from an energy-intensive economy to a decarbonized one, with sectors like heat and power positively impacting sustainability. Implementing measures to reduce emissions is crucial for tackling climate change.